Written Answers Monday 27 October 2008

Scottish Executive

Armed Forces

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what housing support measures are available specifically to assist veterans.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is taking forward the action set out in Scotland’s Veterans’ and Forces’ Communities: Meeting our Commitment , which was published in July this year. This can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/07/CommitmentsPaper2008.

  Scottish Government officials also run regular advice sessions for members of the armed forces, providing guidance on housing options for when they leave the services.

Concessionary Travel

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact assessment was undertaken prior to changes being made to the concessionary travel pass.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people was introduced on 1 April 2006. No changes have been made to the scheme since its introduction other than changes to ease the application procedure for people suffering from epilepsy.

  An equality impact assessment is currently being carried out on the scheme. The scheme is currently being reviewed. It is anticipated recommendations from the review will be made to ministers towards the end of this year.

Concessionary Travel

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with disability groups about the concessionary travel pass.

Stewart Stevenson: Since the inception of the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people on 1 April 2006, we have had regular dialogue with disability groups about how the scheme is operating.

Ferry Services

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12583 by Stewart Stevenson on 14 May 2008, what annual government subsidy was provided to Caledonian MacBrayne in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Stewart Stevenson: The deficit grant paid to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd between 1995-1996 and 1999-2000 was as follows:

  

 a. 1995-96
 a. 1996-97
 a. 1997-98
 a. 1998-99
 a. 1999-2000


a. £8.3 Million
a. £11.7 Million
a. £10.5 Million
a. £14.4 Million
a. £15 Million



  These figures represent the grant paid in the financial year ending on 31 March in each year.

Ferry Services

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average fare rise was on Caledonian MacBrayne/CalMac Ferries Ltd services in each year from 1995 to 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: The average annual fares increases on the Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd/CalMac Ferries Ltd services from the start of Summer timetables each year for the years in question, excluding minor variations affecting some routes in particular years, were as follows:

  

 1995
 1996
 1997
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 3.7%
 3%
 5%
 2.75%
 2.5%
 2.5%
 2.5%
 2.4%



  

 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 2.5%
 2.5%
 2.5%
 2%
 2.2%
 1.8%

Ferry Services

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what income Caledonian MacBrayne/CalMac Ferries Ltd received from its customers in each year from 1995 to 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: For the years 1995-1996 to 1998-1999 inclusive Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd’s published annual accounts did not specifically disclose income from fares and charges. That level of detail was only introduced from the published 1999-2000 annual accounts. The figures provided as an approximation of the information requested have been extracted from the relevant published annual accounts for the financial years to 31 March and show company revenue net of value added tax, less all grants received and any other non-fares and charges income, such as management fees.

  (£ Million)

  

 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02


 34.2
 34.7
 35.3
 36.1
 37.4
 38.3
 40.3



  (£ Million)

  

 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 43.8
 46.7
 49.9
 51.7
 55
 58

Ferry Services

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the operating deficit was on each Caledonian MacBrayne/CalMac Ferries Ltd route in each year from 1995 to 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is only available for the financial years 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Prior to those years, the relevant information was only recorded by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd on an area-by-area basis and since 2007-08 is not recorded by CalMac Ferries Ltd on an individual route basis.

  

 Route
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007*


 Gourock/Dunoon
£2,203,000
£2,451,000
£2,381,000
 n/a**


 Wemyss Bay/Rothesay
£2,104,000
£3,749,000
£2,979,000
£3,390,000


 Largs/Cumbrae
£343,000
£317,000
£674,000
£922,000


 Colintraive/Rhubodach
£641,000
£430,000
£654,000
£650,000


 Tarbert/Portavadie
£304,000
£340,000
£290,000
£280,000


 Oban/Castlebay/Lochboisdale
£3,190,000
£3,763,000
£4,108,000
£4,464,000


 Ullapool/Stornoway
£2,661,000
£4,512,000
£4,563,000
£4,607,000


 Oban/Coll/Tiree
£1,788,000
£2,310,000
£1,422,000
£1,576,000


 Uig/Tarbert/Lochmaddy
£1,963,000
£2,868,000
£3,300,000
£3,389,000


 Berneray/Leverburgh
£977,000
£1,220,000
£964,000
£770,000


 Barra/Eriskay
£497,000
£452,000
£463,000
£449,000


 Kennacraig/Islay
£1,901,000
£2,632,000
£3,277,000
£4,462,000


 Tayinloan/Gigha
£266,000
£472,000
£369,000
£357,000


 Oban/Craignure
£151,000
£182,000
£929,000
£1,842,000


 Fishnish/Lochaline
£112,000
£410,000
£187,000
£267,000


 Tobermory/Kilchoan
£291,000
£436,000
£492,000
£505,000


 Oban/Lismore
£326,000
£421,000
£338,000
£314,000


 Fionnaphort/Iona
£329,000
£523,000
£338,000
£572,000


 Mallaig/Armadale
£773,000
£725,000
£512,000
£643,000


 Mallaig/Small Isles
£1,608,000
£1,946,000
£1,827,000
£1,828,000


 Raasay/Sconser
£611,000
£732,000
£734,000
£720,000


 Oban/Colonsay
£1,052,000
£1,426,000
£950,000
£1,012,000


 Ardrossan/Brodick
£374,000
£1,561,000
£1,392,000
£1,582,000


 Lochranza/Claonaig
£29,000
£165,000
£130,000
£182,000



  Notes:

  *The figures represent the losses incurred in the 12 month period ending on 30 September 2007, i.e. the last full operating year prior to the CalMac Ferries contract starting on 1 October 2007.

  **Gourock to Dunoon ferry service operated by Cowal Ferries Ltd from 1 April 2007.

  The figures for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 represent the losses incurred in the financial year ending on 31 March 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Finance

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can provide to community, voluntary and social economy organisations whose operational or reserve fund bank deposits are adversely affected by the impact of the credit crunch in the international financial markets.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognise that charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises will face tough challenges, particularly in raising donations, while demand for their services is likely to go up. We are working closely and on an on-going basis with sector leaders to determine the impact on Scottish organisations are affected. The sector’s regulator, OSCR, is providing advice and guidance for charities and their trustees via its helpline and website.

  The vital contribution of a vibrant third sector to a more successful Scotland is recognised in £93 million available to the third sector over the next three years, a 37% increase on the last spending review intended to make the sector more sustainable.

Football

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet Supporters Direct.

Stewart Maxwell: Funding for Supporters Direct is routed through sportscotland, the national agency for the development of sport and physical recreation. Accordingly, sportscotland monitor the work and strategic direction of the organisation through on-going meetings. The next meeting has yet to be scheduled.

Fuel Poverty

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce fuel poverty.

Stewart Maxwell: We are doing what we can to improve the delivery of the fuel poverty programmes we inherited from the previous administration, but our review of fuel poverty in Scotland published in May, highlighted that the central heating programme is not effectively targeting the fuel poor. We re-established the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum to advise on how to refocus the programmes to achieve maximum benefits for the fuel poor and get back on track to meet our 2016 target. We are now scrutinising the forum’s recommendations published on 10 October, and will present our report to Parliament shortly.

  In the meantime, we have allocated an additional £10 million to the central heating programme for this year. This will ensure that many more pensioners receive central heating this winter, and we recently announced our intention to extend the fuel poverty programmes from April next year to provide for the first time more than the basic insulation measures to families on income support with children under five or with disabled children under 16.

General Practitioners

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are available to GPs to provide weight management programmes with on-going support and advice.

Nicola Sturgeon: There is no specific funding or payment for the treatment of obesity in the GP contract. GP practices are paid through the quality outcomes framework (QOF) for compiling and maintaining a register of adult patients with a BMI of 30 or more. Treating obesity is funded in the GMS contract through the essential services element and is part of the management of other conditions such as CHD, diabetes and hypertension.

  The Scottish Enhanced Services Programme for primary and community care included a framework for a specialist enhanced service for childhood obesity which has been taken up by Western Isles.

  The first two years of the counterweight programme in each health board is funded by the Scottish Government. The programme has been designed to manage obesity in adults in a primary care setting and is designed to be self-sustaining with the training of a buddy dietician taking on the role of the weight management adviser at the end of the two years.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that people suffering a stroke have access to a diagnosis and thrombolytic therapy within the recommended three hours.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are expected to implement SIGN Guideline 13 on the Management of patients with stroke or TIA: assessment, investigation, immediate management and secondary prevention.

  Stroke SIGN Guidelines 13 and 14 are under review and will reflect recent evidence that thrombolytic therapy up to 4.5 hours is now effective. The NHS QIS stroke standards will also be updated to reflect the new recommendations.

  The Scottish Centre for Telehealth (SCT) and the Scottish Stroke Research Network are working together with Stroke Managed Clinical Networks to introduce telemedicine links between hospitals and between consultants homes and hospitals to help ensure that thrombolysis is administered to appropriate patients and to ensure equity of access to this treatment.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how GPs will ensure (a) consistent referral criteria and (b) equality of access for patients with an obesity problem.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is currently conducting a review of best practice in order to provide advice to health boards about their local healthy weight strategies regarding prevention and management of overweight and obesity. Advice will cover treatment in primary, secondary and tertiary care and address how boards might co-ordinate services through local, regional and national pathways to provide consistent referral and equality of access. It is expected that we will issue advice by the end of the year.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether mixed sex wards still exist in the NHS in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: In most circumstances, mixed sex accommodation has been eliminated in NHS Scotland. However, there are exceptions such as high dependency areas, intensive care units and receiving units where single sex accommodation is not practicable.

  At certain times, hospitals may also experience extreme situations/pressure on beds that may necessitate patients being admitted to an area occupied by patients of the opposite sex. If this occurs, they will be transferred to single-sex accommodation as soon as possible. NHS boards are expected to take steps, in line with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland standards, to ensure patients’ dignity and privacy is protected at all times.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to utilise more fully telehealth facilities in order to reduce patient journeys to hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Centre for TeleHealth (SCT) has been established to support and guide the development of telehealth for clinical, managerial and educational purposes across Scotland. The SCT is involved in a variety of projects aimed at reducing patient journeys. A specific example is the use made of videoconferencing in NHS Grampian to support patients with minor injuries. Patients present at their local community hospital and, by using video conferencing, can be seen by an accident and emergency (A&E) specialist in Aberdeen. Results demonstrate that approximately 90% of telemedicine patients have avoided transfer to Aberdeen. This results in time savings, zero cost of travel, reduced impact on the environment and reduced demand on A&E in Aberdeen. Details of further projects can be found in the SCT's 2007-08 annual report and on its website http://www.sct.scot.nhs.uk/ .

  Looking to the future, work to review the future direction of telehealth and SCT is underway and will report in spring 2009.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether telehealth solutions with a direct link to a GP practice are being used for patients living in remote and rural areas and islands to allow them to perform their own tests and monitor some long-term conditions.

Nicola Sturgeon: A pilot in Aberdeen which provided videoconferencing facilities coupled with a selection of medical devices, for use by a patient, appropriately supported, at a distance has just been successfully completed. Clinicians have been satisfied as to patient safety considerations. This pilot has now been extended to NHS Orkney to pilot the concept in a more remote situation. NHS Lothian and Lanarkshire are undertaking pilots of "home telehealth", whereby patients can monitor their conditions and receive appropriate support through the use of technology in the home setting. The ability to apply the benefits of these types of projects nationally is an important element of the business case and evaluation for these projects.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what month it expects the final report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities to be published.

Fiona Hyslop: The Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities had a constructive and positive final meeting last month. The Scottish Funding Council are now discussing with Universities Scotland the details of the new funding arrangements in the context of New Horizons.  We expect the outcome of this will be made public before the end of the year.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15866 by Stewart Maxwell on 25 September 2008, whether it expects every local authority to contribute to the £100 million Affordable Housing Programme.

Stewart Maxwell: COSLA has agreed to contribute £20 million of expenditure in 2008-09 and £20 million in 2009-10, repayable in 2010-11, to enable acceleration of the affordable housing investment programme. The detailed budget consequences for individual local authorities are the subject of discussion between Scottish Government and COSLA.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15868 by Stewart Maxwell on 25 September 2008, how many of the 54 dwellings in East Ayrshire identified as not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 have been granted exemptions on the ground of (a) works required not being technically feasible and (b) work only being possible at disproportionate cost.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The 54 dwellings in East Ayrshire identified as not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) by 2015 belong to the Link Group Ltd, a Registered Social Landlord with around 5,600 dwellings across 21 local authorities in Scotland. Link Group has now confirmed that it is not planning to apply for exemptions for these properties because whilst they will not meet the standard by the end of March 2015, they will be brought up to the SHQS in the financial year 2015-16.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15868 by Stewart Maxwell on 20 September 2008, how many of the 145 dwellings in South Ayrshire identified as not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 have been granted exemptions on the grounds of (a) works required not being technically feasible and (b) work only being possible at disproportionate cost.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  South Ayrshire Council owns 133 of the 145 dwellings in South Ayrshire identified as being not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) in 2015. The council has indicated that the properties cannot be brought up to the necessary energy efficiency criteria at a proportionate cost and therefore exemptions have been granted. The exemptions were granted on the understanding that these dwellings meet the SHQS in all other criteria by 2015 and that the Council periodically review its position.

  The remaining 12 dwellings projected to not meet the SHQS in 2015 belong to the Link Group Ltd, a registered social landlord with around 5,600 dwellings across 21 local authorities in Scotland. Link Group has now confirmed that it is not planning to apply for exemptions for these properties because whilst they will not meet the Standard by the end of March 2015, they will be brought up to the SHQS in the financial year 2015-16.

International Astronautical Congress

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what economic and technological opportunities for Scotland can be gained as a result of the International Astronautical Congress being held in Glasgow from 29 September to 3 October 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: This event, which I was delighted to help launch, was a very useful one in helping to showcase Scotland’s significant interests and capabilities in space technology to an international audience. This consisted of some 3,000 people including space scientists and engineers and representatives from government and funding agencies. The event provided excellent opportunities for our scientists and technologists to discuss possible partnerships with overseas collaborators and funders. In addressing the audience at the launch I drew attention to several of our interests in space. These included the University of Strathclyde’s recent success in winning two million Euros of European Research Council Funding for frontier research on visionary space systems; the UK Astronomy Technology Centre at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, which is world renowned as a leading supplier for major astronomical observatories worldwide; STAR-Dundee Ltd, a spin-out company from the University of Dundee, which specialises in supporting users and developers of "SpaceWire" communications technology; Clyde Space Ltd, spacecraft hardware company in Glasgow which designs power supplies, batteries and solar panels, for small satellites, and the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, which is achieving excellence in Astrophysics and Space Research. There is no doubt scientists in Scotland have a key role to play in the global space effort. Of course this conference will also have brought very significant benefits to the local economy, and helped to showcase Scotland’s capabilities as a host for international conferences. I would like to congratulate Glasgow City Council for their success in winning this major conference, the benefits of which will be felt for a considerable period.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reported incidents, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions have been recorded in each local authority in each year since 2000 for offences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 relating to sales of alcohol to those under the age of 18.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables:

  The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  Offences Recorded by the Police of Licensed Persons Selling Alcohol to a Person Under 18 by Local Authority Area, 2000-01 to 2007-08

  

 Local Authority
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-071
 2007-08


 Aberdeen City
 16
 29
 12
 1
 7
 29
 19
 30


 Aberdeenshire
 8
 16
 40
 9
 3
 13
 12
 18


 Angus
 -
 2
 2
 5
 4
 12
 9
 5


 Argyll and Bute
 5
 4
 15
 7
 5
 4
 5
 10


 City of Edinburgh
 1
 23
 18
 11
 9
 17
 33
 19


 City of Glasgow
 18
 17
 13
 38
 51
 53
 38
 38


 Clackmannanshire
 2
 3
 -
 4
 1
 -
 7
 8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 1
 4
 20
 18
 9
 5
 36


 Dundee City
 10
 8
 6
 7
 -
 10
 10
 13


 East Ayrshire
 4
 4
 36
 15
 20
 10
 10
 12


 East Dunbartonshire
 21
 4
 13
 8
 8
 16
 13
 7


 East Lothian
 6
 7
 1
 -
 -
 3
 41
 20


 East Renfrewshire
 11
 2
 1
 -
 1
 3
 8
 3


 Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
 -
 3
 -
 -
 -
 -
 5
 -


 Falkirk
 11
 31
 9
 10
 21
 8
 34
 33


 Fife
 6
 14
 30
 14
 9
 19
 322
 76


 Highland
 28
 21
 9
 11
 17
 11
 68
 13


 Inverclyde
 7
 3
 5
 1
 3
 1
 7
 10


 Midlothian
 1
 5
 1
 6
 10
 12
 9
 17


 Moray
 2
 7
 14
 -
 8
 1
 17
 28


 North Ayrshire
 -
 2
 9
 9
 13
 23
 10
 5


 North Lanarkshire
 4
 6
 7
 1
 14
 25
 23
 28


 OrkneyIslands
 -
 -
 -
 5
 1
 -
 14
 -


 Perth and Kinross
 1
 4
 4
 1
 33
 9
 1
 1


 Renfrewshire
 2
 3
 13
 17
 9
 18
 17
 26


 Scottish Borders
 8
 3
 7
 -
 7
 4
 8
 5


 Shetland Islands
 1
 2
 -
 -
 3
 -
 2
 7


 South Ayrshire
 10
 12
 14
 21
 6
 13
 7
 21


 South Lanarkshire
 7
 11
 5
 56
 40
 17
 17
 19


 Stirling
 4
 13
 4
 7
 7
 14
 12
 8


 West Dunbartonshire
 1
 4
 8
 2
 3
 2
 8
 17


 West Lothian
 7
 14
 4
 1
 2
 1
 10
 43


 All Scotland
 202
 278
 304
 287
 333
 357
 801
 576



  Note: 1. Figures for 2006-07 show the impact of the Fife test purchasing pilot.

  Licensed Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Selling Alcohol to Under 18s1 by Approximate Local Authority Area2, 2000-01 to 2006-07

  

Local Authority/Result
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
3
-
2
2
-
1
4


Charge Proved
-
-
2
1
-
2
4


Total proceeded against
3
-
4
3
-
3
8


Aberdeenshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
4
-
2
-
-
-
-


Total proceeded against
4
-
2
-
-
-
-


Angus 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
1


Charge Proved
-
1
2
-
-
-
1


Total proceeded against
-
1
2
-
-
-
2


Argyll and Bute 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Total proceeded against
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Clackmannanshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
1
-
-
-
2
1
-


Charge Proved
1
-
-
-
1
-
-


Total proceeded against
2
-
-
-
3
1
-


Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
1
2
3
-


Charge Proved
-
-
-
1
1
3
-


Total proceeded against
-
-
-
2
3
6
-


Dundee City 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
3
-
2
2
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
1
1
3
-
-
-


Total proceeded against
3
1
3
5
-
-
-


East Ayrshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
1
1
-
-
1
1
-


Charge Proved
1
3
2
3
4
3
3


Total proceeded against
2
4
2
3
5
4
3


East Dunbartonshire
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
1
-
-
2
-
-


Total proceeded against
-
1
-
-
2
-
-


East Lothian 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


Charge Proved
2
2
-
-
-
1
1


Total proceeded against
2
2
-
-
-
2
1


East Renfrewshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


Total proceeded against
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


Edinburgh, City of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
1
1
2
1
1
3
6


Charge Proved
1
1
6
2
4
2
3


Total proceeded against
2
2
8
3
5
5
9


Eilean Siar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Total proceeded against
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Falkirk 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
1
-
4
3
1
2
2


Charge Proved
2
2
1
1
1
2
2


Total proceeded against
3
2
5
4
2
4
4


Fife 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
3
-
-
2
1
-
1


Charge Proved
3
1
-
3
-
-
4


Total proceeded against
6
1
-
5
1
-
5


Glasgow City 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
6
7
1
1
2
2
5


Charge Proved
3
3
1
2
5
5
5


Total proceeded against
9
10
2
3
7
7
10


Highland 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
1
-
1
1
1


Charge Proved
-
2
1
-
-
1
2


Total proceeded against
-
2
2
-
1
2
3


Inverclyde 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
1
-
-
1
-
-
-


Total proceeded against
1
-
-
1
-
-
-


Midlothian 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
2
1
1


Charge Proved
1
1
-
-
-
-
3


Total proceeded against
1
1
-
-
2
1
4


Moray 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
2
-
1
-
-
-


Total proceeded against
-
2
-
1
-
-
-


North Ayrshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
1


Charge Proved
-
-
2
1
-
1
2


Total proceeded against
-
-
2
1
-
1
3


North Lanarkshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
5


Charge Proved
-
-
-
-
-
2
2


Total proceeded against
-
-
-
-
-
2
7


Orkney Islands 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
-
-
3
-
-
1


Total proceeded against
-
-
-
3
-
-
1


Perth and Kinross 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
-
1
-
-
1
-


Total proceeded against
1
-
1
-
-
1
-


Renfrewshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
2
-
3


Charge Proved
-
2
-
5
1
-
2


Total proceeded against
-
2
-
5
3
-
5


Scottish Borders 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
2
2
-
-
2
2
-


Charge Proved
-
3
3
-
-
2
1


Total proceeded against
2
5
3
-
2
4
1


Shetland Islands 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Charge Proved
1
1
-
-
2
-
-


Total proceeded against
1
1
-
-
3
-
-


South Ayrshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
2
2
-
-
-
6
7


Charge Proved
-
3
4
4
-
3
2


Total proceeded against
2
5
4
4
-
9
9


South Lanarkshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
2
4
-
-
2
12
1


Charge Proved
-
-
4
1
6
5
5


Total proceeded against
2
4
4
1
8
17
6


Stirling 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
-
-
-
1
3
1
3


Charge Proved
-
-
1
1
-
1
1


Total proceeded against
-
-
1
2
3
2
4


West Dunbartonshire
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
2
-
-
-
-
1
-


Charge Proved
-
-
-
2
-
-
2


Total proceeded against
2
-
-
2
-
1
2


West Lothian 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


Charge Proved
-
-
-
-
-
-
1


Total proceeded against
1
-
-
-
-
-
1


Scotland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Not guilty 
29
17
12
13
23
38
41


Charge Proved
20
30
34
35
27
34
47


Total proceeded against
49
47
46
48
50
72
88



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. There are four local authorities, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, which do not contain a sheriff court.

Local Government Finance

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level was of (a) balance sheet and (b) non-balance sheet debt for each local authority in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: The information on balance sheet debt was not held centrally prior to the financial year 2007-08. The Scottish Government is currently in the process of collecting the data for 2007-08 but at this time it is not complete and has not been validated. The information on non-balance sheet debt is not held centrally.

Local Income Tax

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated loss of local income tax revenue would be if full-time students were exempted from the tax.

John Swinney: As I said in the Local Government Finance debate on 2 October 2008 we are actively considering representations that full-time students should be exempt from paying local income tax. Once this process is complete, we shall provide further information on our proposals.

Local Income Tax

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time students live in chargeable dwellings as defined in Section 72(6) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

Local Income Tax

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish estimated set up and running costs to business of its proposed local income tax.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to publish such estimates. In developing our proposals for local income tax we took account of the estimated costs to business highlighted in the report A Fairer Way by Sir Peter Burt (2006).

Local Income Tax

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish an analysis of the (a) cost to small businesses without payroll departments of administering a local income tax and (b) number of small businesses it estimates to be without payroll departments, including unincorporated small businesses.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to publish such an analysis. We are determined to minimise the impact of the introduction of local income tax on small businesses through use of existing HM Revenue and Customs systems.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what outcomes are used to measure improvements in patients’ mental health.

Nicola Sturgeon: A range of outcomes can be used to measure improvements for patients including success in self-care management together with improved relationships, maintaining employment, participation in social activities, reduced isolation, improved diet and physical activity, and reduced reliance on medication.

  We also continue to work with local health and social care partners to develop a community care framework to better assess outcomes from the service user and carer perspectives. Delivery of our benchmarking initiative is also supporting change and improvement by mental health service providers.

Ministerial Correspondence

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many items of correspondence, meeting requests or other recorded contacts have been received from members of the UK Parliament by Transport Scotland concerning the M9 Chartershall bridge near Stirling, broken down by MP.

Stewart Stevenson: Since May 2007, one MP, Anne McGuire, has written once to Transport Scotland about this matter.

NHS Complaints

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS complaints were (a) responded to within target timescales, (b) upheld and (c) regarded as being dealt with satisfactorily by the original complainant each year since 1997, also broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information Services Division (ISD) holds certain information on complaints made against Hospital & Community Health and Family Health Services. Summary information is also held on NHS24 and Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service complaints. A set of four tables, under the title of NHS Complaints Statistics and setting out the available data, can be obtained from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46798).

  It should be noted that:

  The target for acknowledging NHS complaints is three days.

  The target for responding to NHS complaints is 20 days.

  Comprehensive information on the response times and outcomes for the Family Health Service complaints is not held centrally.

  Specific information on whether complainants considered their complaint was dealt with satisfactorily is not held centrally.

NHS Funding

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the prescribing budget was (a) nationally and (b) for each NHS board in each year since 1997, both in real and cash terms.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards do not have a ring-fenced prescribing budget. Expenditure on Prescribing is met from within their overall budget allocations.

  Information on expenditure for Prescribing is provided in following tables:

  1. Drug Expenditure for Financial Years Ending 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2008

  Provided in Cash Terms (Bib. number 46770).

  2. Drug Expenditure for Financial Years Ending 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2008

  Provided in Real Terms (Bib. number 46771).

Palliative Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have identified services for palliative and end-of-life care as priorities in their single outcome agreements.

Nicola Sturgeon: Living and Dying Well, the Scottish Government’s action plan for palliative and end-of-life care will lead to the development of a single, comprehensive approach to the provision of palliative and end-of-life care that will be embedded across Scotland for the first time. All key agencies and stakeholders, including local authorities, the voluntary sector and the NHS in Scotland will need to ensure appropriate priority is given to the requirement of Living and Dying Well.

  Single outcome agreements (SOAs) for 2008-09 have been agreed with all 32 councils and should all now be publicly available. As councils were responsible for producing the SOAs and are responsible for the delivery of local services, questions regarding the content of individual SOAs should be directed to them in the first instance. The SOAs reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-14648 which received a holding reply on 23 July 2008.

Linda Fabiani: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46789).

Parliamentary Questions

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it issues a holding answer to a parliamentary question that seeks a yes or no answer and for which no research or data compilation is required.

Bruce Crawford: The standard Scottish Government process ensures that if a written parliamentary question is not answered within 10 counting days (20 days during recess) then a holding reply will automatically be issued.

Piers and Harbours

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Highland Council and other stakeholders about the wish of the local community that Uig pier be upgraded.

Stewart Stevenson: No such discussions between Scottish Government officials and Highland Council and other stakeholders have taken place.

Piers and Harbours

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can provide towards the upgrading of Uig pier.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no plans to provide financial support for the upgrading of Uig Pier. As part of the local government settlement for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11, the Scottish Executive removed the ring-fencing on a number of funding streams, including Piers and Harbours Grants, to allow local authorities greater flexibility in determining their own local spending priorities. Accordingly, it would be for Highland Council, as owners of Uig Pier, to fund such a project from the resources made available to them under the local government settlement and any other funding that is available to them from their own or other sources.

Piers and Harbours

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Uig pier is a lifeline transport link for the Uist community.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government recognises that Uig Pier is an important lifeline transport link, supporting lifeline ferry services operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist.

Piers and Harbours

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the process is for piers to be removed from local authority control and to consider other ownership options, such as community ownership, and what support is available for taking such options forward.

Stewart Stevenson: It would be for the relevant local community representatives to seek their own legal advice about the process that would be required for them to acquire ownership of a particular pier. If local community representatives were to pursue ownership of a particular pier, they would have to secure their own funding for associated legal costs.

Planning

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between the projects listed in National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 SEA: Supplementary Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Candidate National Developments Environmental Report Annex 2 - Consultation Paper and projects being considered in the strategic transport projects review.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The on-going Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Planning Framework is being undertaken to ensure that the likely significant impacts of projects which stakeholders have proposed as national developments are taken into account in decisions on the Proposed National Planning Framework , in compliance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The Strategic Transport Projects Review is being undertaken to identify priorities for Government spending on transport infrastructure from 2012. While these two exercises serve different purposes, there is a clear overlap with regard to transport related infrastructure projects. The teams of officials involved in the preparation of the National Planning Framework and the Strategic Transport Projects Review are liaising closely to ensure that they are working to a common strategic agenda.

Planning

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any transport projects not listed in National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 SEA: Supplementary Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Candidate National Developments Environmental Report Annex 2 - Consultation Paper will be considered as part of the strategic transport projects review.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The Strategic Transport Projects Review explores numerous projects in addition to those which have been included as Candidate National Developments in the National Planning Framework Strategic Environmental Assessment Consultation paper.

Planning

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the omission of a project from National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 SEA: Supplementary Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Candidate National Developments Environmental Report Annex 2 - Consultation Paper precludes that project from receiving financial backing from the Scottish Government.

Stewart Stevenson: No. Neither The National Planning Framework  nor it’s accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment  are spending documents. Just as the presence of any Candidate National development within the SEA: Supplementary Assessment does not indicate any commitment by the Scottish Government, the omission of a project does not preclude it from receiving financial backing through another programme or strategy.

Planning

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13507 by Stewart Stevenson on 9 June 2008, when ministers will make a decision on whether to approve the Fife Structure Plan.

Stewart Stevenson: In line with our public announcement in August on progress with the Fife Structure Plan, Scottish Government is currently drafting modifications to the plan and progressing the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their environmental effects, with a view to publishing the proposed modifications and the SEA Environmental Report for public consultation later this autumn.

Planning

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not yet reached a decision on the Fife Structure Plan.

Stewart Stevenson: In line with our public announcement in August on progress with the Fife Structure Plan, a decision has not yet been reached, as Scottish Government is considering draft modifications and progressing the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their environmental effects, with a view to publishing the proposed modifications and the SEA Environmental Report for public consultation later this autumn.

Public Appointments

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been to the membership of the expert group on privacy since it was announced on 9 September 2008.

John Swinney: There has been one change: Gareth Crossman from Liberty accepted a new job in an unrelated field and therefore withdrew from the group before its first meeting.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rule out the PPP/PFI method of Design, Build, Finance and Maintenance (DBFM) as the means of developing the Borders railway project.

Stewart Stevenson: It has already been identified that the Borders Railway project will be procured through the Non Profit Distributing (NPD) model. NPD offers better value for money than the expensive PFI model.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a public sector comparator into the method of funding the Borders railway project will be carried out.

Stewart Stevenson: To ensure the project achieves value for money, the selected procurement route will have been compared against a traditional public sector comparator prior to any funding decision being made.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected finish date was for the informal market testing of the Borders railway project and how many responses were received.

Stewart Stevenson: The informal market testing exercise was completed in August 2008. Responses were received from 10 contracting organisations and five funder organisations.

Rail Network

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding a high-speed rail link between London and Scottish train stations.

Stewart Stevenson: I met the then Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Transport, Tom Harris MP, on 28 May 2008 to discuss the potential for a high-speed rail link between London and Scotland.

  Scottish ministers recognise the value of faster rail links to our key economic centres and support in principle the concept of a high speed rail link. We are working with the Department for Transport (DfT) to explore all options for improving cross-border links. DfT has commissioned Network Rail to carry out a study on this issue and we are engaging with interest in that work.

Rivers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation is responsible for the dredging of the River Clyde and which public body monitors the effectiveness of this work.

Stewart Stevenson: Clydeport as the statutory harbour authority is responsible for the dredging of the River Clyde and for monitoring the effectiveness of such work.

Rivers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is to the public purse of the dredging of the River Clyde and whether any of the expenditure is borne by local authorities.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no cost to the public purse as a result of the dredging of the River Clyde.

Rivers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether proposals are to hand anent the regulations governing the dredging of the River Clyde.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government will shortly consult on proposals to extend the Environmental Impact Assessment and Natural Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 to dredging for minerals in waters within the jurisdiction of harbour authorities.

Rivers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with maritime organisations that operate on the River Clyde and other interested parties on the matter of the dredging of the river.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Clydeport to discuss a range of matters including dredging, and there is also on-going contact between Scottish Natural Heritage, Fisheries Research Services and Clydeport on dredging of the River Clyde in particular.

Roads

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction exists in guidance or statute to allow the provision of infrastructure for pedestrians to cross motorways or trunk roads.

Stewart Stevenson: The statutory power that allows the Scottish Executive as trunk road authority to provide infrastructure for pedestrians to cross motorways or trunk roads is contained in section 26 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

  Section 26 states, "The roads authority may, for the purpose of making the crossing of a public road less dangerous for pedestrians or of protecting traffic along the road from danger, construct, light, and maintain subways under, or footbridges over, the road for the use of pedestrians."

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many footbridges, underpasses or similar types of infrastructure for pedestrians there are on each (a) motorway and (b) trunk road.

Stewart Stevenson: There are 145 trunk road footbridges recorded within Trunk Road Bridges Database (TRBDB):

  (a) 38 are on the trunk road motorway network

  (b) 107 are on the A Class trunk road network.

  There are 200 trunk road underpasses, with either vehicular and pedestrian or pedestrian provision, recorded within TRBDB:

  (a) 42 on the trunk road motorway network

  (b) 158 on the A Class trunk road network.

  There are 252 over-bridges that cross the trunk road and most have pedestrian provision:

  (a) 143 are over the trunk road motorway network

  (b) 109 are over the A Class trunk road network.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision not to fund the completion of the footpath alongside the A76 between Cumnock and New Cumnock.

Stewart Stevenson: The circumstances relating to the funding of a footpath are broadly unchanged, consequently the position set out in the answer to S3W-12472 on 14 May 2008 remains. Should the situation change as a result of plans aimed at the regeneration of the Mauchline to New Cumnock corridor, the position will be reviewed. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk./webapp/wa.search.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the construction of a Maybole bypass to improving safety on the A77.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive acknowledges the importance of improving safety on the A77.

  Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network, including safety issues. This includes consideration of the Maybole bypass within the A77, as part of the strategic transport corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire and Stranraer.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the construction of a Maybole bypass to improving the economy of south-west Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of improving the economy of south-west Scotland.

  Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network. This includes consideration of the Maybole bypass within the A77, as part of the strategic transport corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire and Stranraer.

  The STPR will lead to a transport programme for the period 2012 to 2022 targeted at facilitating better movement of people and goods across Scotland to increase wealth and enable more people to share fairly in that wealth.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the construction of a Maybole bypass to improving tourism in Carrick.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive acknowledges the importance of improving tourism in Carrick.

  Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network. This includes consideration of the Maybole bypass within the A77, as part of the strategic transport corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire and Stranraer.

  The STPR will lead to a transport programme for the period 2012 to 2022 targeted at facilitating better movement of people and goods across Scotland to increase wealth and enable more people to share fairly in that wealth.

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Inverness trunk link route was considered in the process of selecting the 52 candidate national developments that were assessed for their environmental effect.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The environmental effects of road infrastructure improvements, including the Inverness trunk link route, were broadly considered within the NPF SEA of the A96 Growth Corridor candidate national development.

Scottish Government Funding

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether projects that did not appear on the recently published list of 52 candidate national developments are unlikely to be included in spending priorities to be announced.

Stewart Stevenson: No. Neither the National Planning Framework nor the supplementary Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on candidate national developments are spending documents. Just as the presence of any project within the SEA Annex 2: Supplementary Assessment of Candidate National Developments does not indicate any commitment by the Scottish Government, the omission of a project does not preclude it from receiving financial backing through another programme or strategy.

Sexual Offences

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are proposed or in place to reduce or eliminate the threat posed to children and young people from internet grooming for sexual purposes.

Adam Ingram: The Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences Act 2005 counters threats posed to children, whether via the internet or otherwise, by providing for an offence of sexual "grooming" of a person under 16 by an adult aged 18 or over. The 2005 act also provides for Risk of Sexual Harm Orders which enables the police to impose, prior to any conviction, early restrictions on those persons believed to be a risk to the safety of children and young people.

  In addition, the Scottish Government works closely with the Home Office and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) to develop UK-wide policy to ensure the safe use of the internet for children and young people and their parents.

  CEOP’s most recent strategic overview describes changing trends and tactics used by online sex offenders. http://www.ceop.gov.uk/downloads/documents/CEOPStrategicOverview2008.pdf.

  These new findings will help refine how the Scottish Government continues to work with our partners to further improve the protection offered to our young people in the online environment. This work will be further strengthened through our participation in the recently established UK Council for Child Internet Safety, whose purpose is to develop and deliver a comprehensive internet safety strategy for children and young people.

Sexual Offences

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take following the recent reports by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons into HM Prison Dumfries and HM Prison Peterhead that raised concerns about the rehabilitation of sex offenders prior to release.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  HM Prison Peterhead and HM Prison Dumfries have developed action plans to address the issues raised by the recommendations included in the recent HMIP reports. This is in line with normal SPS practice.

  SPS is currently in the process of developing an Interventions and Offender Case Management Strategy which will also include a national strategy for the management of sex offenders. A key aspect of this will be motivational work to encourage sex offenders to engage in appropriate interventions, including the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Sexual Offences

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio is of sex offenders recommended to enter a treatment programme to places available.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  A total of 93 offenders completed the Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) during 2007-08. This represents 69% of the number assessed as suitable for participation in SOTP that year.

Sexual Offences

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of sex offenders have received rehabilitation treatment prior to release and how much funding has been allocated to programmes for the treatment of such offenders in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Currently this information is not available, work is underway to provide this information in due course.

Sexual Offences

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to make the Sex Offender Treatment Programme compulsory for convicted sex offenders.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS has no plans to make the Sex Offender Treatment Programmes (SOTP) it delivers compulsory for convicted sex offenders as it is essential that the individual is motivated, ready to engage in the intervention and ready to modify their behaviour. This is in line with the British Psychological Society Professional Practice Guidelines, the Accreditation Standards for SOTPs and recognised effective practice.

Sexual Offences

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that all sex offenders in prison who have been convicted of serious offences such as rape are involved in programmes that address their offending behaviour.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS is currently developing a national strategy for the management of sex offenders. The strategy will set out how the SPS intends to develop and improve the services it provides for sexual offenders in order to reduce their risk of reoffending and also prepare them for release. An element of this strategy will specifically focus on helping individuals to engage and effectively participate in the SOTP.

  Simply delivering a Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) to an individual will not be effective, it is essential that the individual is motivated, ready to engage in the intervention and ready to modify their behaviour."

Sexual Offences

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to ensure that sex offenders in prison who have been convicted of serious offences such as rape and have failed to participate in programmes that address their offending behaviour are not released into the community without completing their sentence.

Kenny MacAskill: Offenders who are convicted of an offence that requires them to register under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and sentenced to imprisonment for 6 months or more are on licence for the entire portion of their sentence that is served in the community.

  Supervision is a mandatory licence condition. Other conditions can also be imposed such as requiring the offender to undertake work to address their offending behaviour. Failure to comply with any licence condition can result in recall to custody for the remainder of the sentence.

Sexual Offences

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted for sex crimes in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The information is given in the following table. People who were tried in the High Court are shown separately.

  People with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts whose Main Crime was a Crime of Indecency, by Approximate Local Authority Area1, 2002-03 to 2006-07

  

 Local Authority
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Aberdeen City 
 21
 28
 26
 49
 60


 Aberdeenshire 
 7
 8
 13
 19
 19


 Angus 
 16
 12
 8
 8
 18


 Argyll and Bute 
 11
 5
 9
 1
 5


 Clackmannanshire 
 5
 4
 3
 7
 3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 12
 7
 9
 24


 Dundee City 
 11
 13
 14
 33
 29


 East Ayrshire 
 6
 16
 13
 21
 23


 East Dunbartonshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 East Lothian 
 3
 6
 4
 4
 1


 East Renfrewshire 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Edinburgh, City of 
 48
 56
 46
 71
 67


 Eilean Siar 
 -
 1
 4
 3
 5


 Falkirk 
 10
 12
 12
 10
 15


 Fife 
 27
 32
 18
 28
 22


 Glasgow City 
 140
 159
 275
 315
 324


 Highland 
 21
 44
 41
 32
 25


 Inverclyde 
 1
 5
 4
 5
 1


 Midlothian 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Moray 
 -
 6
 13
 9
 15


 North Ayrshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 North Lanarkshire 
 9
 12
 22
 14
 8


 Orkney Islands 
 2
 2
 4
 2
 -


 Perth and Kinross 
 11
 14
 8
 9
 12


 Renfrewshire 
 13
 13
 18
 6
 7


 Scottish Borders 
 10
 10
 18
 19
 13


 Shetland Islands 
 1
 1
 6
 3
 5


 South Ayrshire 
 18
 10
 11
 8
 10


 South Lanarkshire 
 23
 23
 33
 30
 20


 Stirling 
 2
 6
 10
 9
 9


 West Dunbartonshire
 8
 7
 13
 4
 10


 West Lothian 
 11
 8
 11
 14
 13


 High Court
 124
 141
 144
 110
 77


 Scotland
 562
 666
 809
 852
 841



  Notes:

  1. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. There are four local authorities, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, which do not contain a sheriff court.

  2. Crimes of indecency comprises "rape and attempted rape", "indecent assault", "lewd and indecent behaviour" and "other crimes of indecency". "Other crimes of indecency" comprise the following crime categories: "incest", "unnatural crimes" and "procuration and other sexual offences". The latter category includes prostitution.

Single Outcome Agreements

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when reports will be published on progress of the local authority single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: Subject to the agreement of other partners, we expect councils to publish their annual reports on single outcome agreements in the autumn of each year. An interim progress report is expected (for the first year only) around the turn of the financial year with the first annual report expected in autumn of 2009.